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August
As the month begins, the sun is passing through the stars of Cancer, until around 17h on the 10th, when it crosses the boundary into Leo, where it remains for the rest of the month. From the beginning of August, truly dark nights begin again in northern UK.
The Moon
There are two apogees (moon furthest from Earth) this month, the first occurs on the 4th at 01h00, and the second is on the 31st just before noon. Perigee (nearest) occurs on the 19th at around 05h.
Full Moon in the northern part of Capricornus is on the 6th at 01h00.
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There is another penumbral eclipse, but there is little chance of seeing more than a slight dimming at the moon's southern limb at the time of the maximum phase at 00h39. Last Quarter is on the 13th, just before 19h in Aries. New Moon is mid morning on the 20th in Leo, the moon being a little less than 2 south of the sun. First Quarter is on the 27th at around 11h50 in Scorpius, just to the west of Antares.
It may be possible to glimpse earthshine on the night hemisphere of the waning crescent moon from the 15th to the 19th.
The Planets
Mercury is an evening star throughout the month but will not be seen due to its low altitude and the fact that it sets within an hour of the sun.
Venus continues to shine splendidly during the early hours of the morning in the eastern sky, rising 3 hours before the sun during the entire month. The 'Morning Star' moves eastwards through Gemini, crossing into Cancer by the end of the month. The waning crescent moon lies to the upper right of Venus during the morning of the 17th, 10 separating the two, but on the next morning, the moon lies to the left of Venus at an angular distance of 4.
Mars continues its eastward journey through Taurus, passing between the horns of the bull during the middle of the month and entering the western parts of Gemini as August ends. The planet continues to increase in brightness and may be seen directly below Capella in Auriga at around 01h30 on the 30th. Mars is visible from midnight onwards during the whole of the month. At 02h on the 16th, the waning crescent moon is 2 above Mars.
Jupiter is at opposition and its nearest to the earth at 17h on the 14th, and so is at its brightest for the year as it lies opposite the sun in the sky. The giant planet rises at sunset and sets at sunrise. It lies in the NE part of Capricornus, 2 to the west of the constellation's brightest star Deneb Algiedi, the 'tail of the goat'. The moon, just after full, passes above Jupiter on the evening of the 6th at 20h15, and the two may be seen rising in the twilight separated by an angular distance of 2 in the south-eastern sky. This is the best time to observe the Galilean satellites, which are readily visible as tiny star like points on either side of the planet's disc through any small telescope or firmly fixed binoculars.
It may be possible to glimpse Saturn at the very beginning of August, but at 20h30 it is barely 6 above the western horizon in twilight. The planet is then lost in encroaching daylight as it moves towards conjunction with the sun next month
Uranus and Neptune are visible through telescopes for most of the night, Neptune coming into opposition, and its nearest to the earth on the 17th at 20h. Neptune lies 2 (four moon widths) to the east of bright Jupiter
One of the best shooting star showers of the year peaks overnight between the 11th and 12th. These meteors are called the Perseids, or the 'Tears of St Lawrence'. Expect to see 75 or more shooting stars each hour, and especially in the early morning sky. The moon is approaching last quarter so could interfere with observations. The Perseid meteors are associated with the Swift-Tuttle comet discovered in the nineteenth century.
Constellations visible in the south around midnight, mid-month, are as follows:Capricornus, Aquarius, Equuleus (the Little Horse), Delphinus (The Dolphin) and Cygnus. The Milky Way is at the zenith, and spans the sky from the NE to the SW.
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Weather for Scarborough
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -4 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South
